Audiobooks read by the author
“Best memoir you've listened to, read by the author?”
26 answers from 22 people · Updated Oct 12, 2026
Some Books should be Audiobooks
5 recs
Memoirs read by the author >>>>> Click the link for ratings and more of what I'm reading, or more in-depth reviews on IG
the stories, the accent, its absolutely incredible. almost 10 years old now and its still the first audiobook that comes to mind—and i read (listen) to a loooooot of audiobooks.
53
I'm Glad My Mom Died (Jennette McCurdy)
It is incredibly heavy but her reading it really is better than reading it myself.
7
Kitchen Confidential (Anthony Bourdain)
the perfect non-fiction book you MUST listen to the audiobook
1
This was the book that got me into audiobooks. My jaw dropped 100 times. I could talk about this book for an hour. Jessica Simpson had a fascinating time in the spotlight and hearing her stories in her voice made it better.
23
Broken Horses (Brandi Carlile)
The audiobook version is interspersed with her song recordings- her own and her covers of Leonard, Dolly Parton and more.
how to murder your life by cat marnell
she’s crazy but she’s FREE! her memoir details her… turbulent upbringing/working as a beauty editor in nyc/drug use. she goes through really dark stuff but her creativity and dreams get her through everything… she also narrates the audiobook herself and i enjoyed it greatly
21
You’re On A Plane - a “me”-moir in her words. I love listening to this book. Her voice is fabulous and she takes you on a magical journey. Cleverly, the premise is you are sitting next to Parker Posey on a plane and she is telling you the story of her life. I have listened to this book a half dozen times it’s so entertaining - good for long car rides or even a plane ;)
4
Be Ready When the Luck Happens (Ina Garten)
I love memoirs and this is an unexpected favorite. Again recommend the audiobook because she reads it in her own voice. I loved her show but the most interesting parts of this book to me weren’t about her career. Her and Jeffrey’s relationship navigation, her relationship with her parents and the thought process she has around not having kids were interesting to learn about her.
1
Another one where the author reads the book and gripped!
It is a call and response of his life in his own memory and then via the memory of others read by him - feels perfect for him to read both perspectives back to back to you the reader.
3
Everything Sam Irby writes me lol and it's even better when she's reading it to you. Also love her on substack https://bitchesgottaeat.substack.com/
5
How to end a story Helen Garner
Memoir / diary about the end of her relationship to another writer . Brilliant uncensored writing. I listened to the audiobook which she reads herself
1
Any of Nora Ephron’s Audiobooks that She Actually Narrates
But especially whichever book has the essay about Helen Gurley Brown.
1
Fran Lebowitz Reader, read by the author
Like a Triple A collection of podcast episodes that are actually good. Bonus Points when the audiobook is discussing charts or images in the book you can’t see! Even worth a Relisten!
52
Classy and candid, just like Michelle herself. Late to the party with this read. Having Michelle Obama read her memoir to you in the audiobook makes it all the more poignant. Well written and constructed so it reads more like a novel than nonfiction.
Priest Daddy (Patricia Lockwood)
Nonfiction works best for me for audiobooks and this memoir is an absolute banger. Read by the author, it will certainly make you laugh, but it’s more than just a ha-ha book. Highest of high recommends.
252
an oldie-ish (2011) but a goodie nonetheless. Audio is a must. I remember cackling.
2
Actress of a Certain Age (Jeff Hiller)
I laughed, I cried, I appreciated that Jeff is a listener of audiobooks (especially celebrity memoirs) and made a few audiobook only jokes for us.
18
I LOVE LOVE LOVE her writing, but what makes it even better is her reading it aloud to me. It’s like Tammy from Bobs Burgers is here telling me her revenge fantasy for Billy Murray’s character from Ghostbusters <3
1
How to Weep in Public - Jacqueline reads her book
Listen to Jacqueline read her depression book from 2016.
2
I come back to this book when I'm feeling iffy about life things and it just perks me back up, especially when told by Casey herself
3
Author reads this one too. If you want to know your UK feminist history, this is a must
3
Full disclosure I didn’t listen to the audiobook but adored the book-book and I checked and she does read the audio version!
31
Listening to audiobooks in labor
My firstborn was delivered to the dulcet tones of Obama narrating his memoir. And now he is going to be president.
